Snap fit pultrusion for housing elements

Abstract

The invention provides snap fit pultrusion housing elements for joining structurally insulated panels suitable for housing and shelter construction. The housing elements include a pultruded panel body member having at least one edge, and a pultruded snap lock fitting on the edge adapted for fastenerless engagement with a complementary fitting on an adjacent panel body member.

1. A housing element assembly, comprising:
 a tongued unit having an arcuate tongue and a flexible clip, said flexible clip having an end and an intermediate portion thinner than said end in at least one dimension; and 
 a grooved unit having an arcuate groove for receiving said arcuate tongue, and a clip receptacle for cooperatively mating with said flexible clip on said tongued unit; 
 wherein connecting said tongued unit with said grooved unit, said flexible clip bends at said intermediate portion in a first direction to enable insertion of said clip into said clip receptacle and when said flexible clip is fully inserted into said clip receptacle said flexible clip bends at said intermediate portion in a second direction to snap into a locked position in said clip receptacle, such that said tongued unit and said grooved unit form a snap-lock joint and are thereby prevented from further radial translation in relation to one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The housing element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said tongued unit has a flexible clip disposed on a first side and an arcuate tongue disposed on a second side; and
 wherein said grooved unit has a clip receptacle disposed on a first side for receiving said flexible clip on said tongued unit and an arcuate groove disposed on a second side for receiving said arcuate tongue; 
 whereby said arcuate tongue of a tongued unit is inserted into said arcuate groove of said grooved unit and said tongued unit is radially translated in relation to said grooved unit and used as a lever to press said clip into a fully inserted position in said clip receptacle, such that said tongued unit mates with said grooved unit to form a positive fit. 
 
     
     
       3. The housing element assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said grooved unit further includes two material layers and a stiffening element disposed there between, and said tongued unit further includes first and second recessed sections, such that said material layers of said grooved unit each fit flush in one of said first and second recessed sections of said tongued unit. 
     
     
       4. The housing element assembly of  claim 2  wherein approximating two housing elements together at an angle and radially translating one of said units to a snap fit can be accomplished when the other of said units is fixed and immovable. 
     
     
       5. The housing element assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the center of rotation for the radial translation of said arcuate tongue in relation to said arcuate groove is at the surface of said grooved unit, whereby said tongued unit rotates into said grooved unit to form a flush surface without contact between the edges of said tongued unit and said grooved unit as the mating is accomplished.